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Chinese Zodiac: Animals
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The Chinese zodiac follows a twelve year cycle, each of the years being named after an animal. The Chinese believe that people born in a particular year take on the characteristics of the animal associated with that year.
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This Chinese zodiac painting was hand painted by a Chinese folk artist. This Chinese painting depicts the animals from the Chinese zodiac, with the dragon in the center. This Chinese painting is 11 x 11 inches around and was hand painted in China.
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Something else that people don’t understand from most Chinese Zodiac overviews is that it is based on the Chinese New Year which does not begin on January 1. The date varies but typically is towards the end of January. Therefore, when determining the correct animal, most people born during the month of January should be included as part of the previous year. Also, the 12 phases that make up the Chinese year are lunar months, coinciding with the appearance of each New Moon.
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Though in people's eyes, the rat is not adorable, and even some Chinese sayings that related to it have almost derogatory meanings, it ranged as the head of the Chinese zodiac. It was recognized as an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality.
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The Chinese Zodiac is based on the Lunar Year, while Western Astrology is based on the Solar Year, so the two do not exactly coincide. The Zodiac Animals form the underlying basis of this ancient system, but bear in mind that there is much more to it than appears from the simple Animal Characters.
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This diagram illustrates the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The animals of the zodiac are placed in line with their respective years. (Note: The Chinese New Year begins on February 4 or 5.) By matching the year of someone's birth with the appropriate animal or sign, one can determine his or her personality traits. Click on an animal to view the characteristics assigned to those born under its sign.
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